Sunday, January 20, 2013

There are two ways of analyzing the speech
delivered by Rahul Gandhi at the Congress conclave at Jaipur on January
20,2013, after he had been chosen by the conclave as the Vice-President of the
Party. He was already the de facto No.2 of the party. The conclave decision
made him the de jure no.2.

2.The first way of analyzing it is as the debut
speech of the de jure Vice-President. Seen in that perspective, it was an
impressive speech-----thoughtful, well-drafted, well-articulated and with a
right touch of emotional references to Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

3.The speech showed that he has had the benefit of
a good speech-writer, with possibly idea inputs from a number of people such as
Sam Pitroda, Jairam Ramesh and others.

4. It was addressed to the party and not to the
nation as a whole. It sought to give the impression of being introspective and
self-critical, but lackedin originality
in thinking.

5.Though the party was the intended audience, it
was designed to make a positive impact on the people of the country as a whole
in an attempt to erase the widespread perception that Rahul Gandhi is still a
political novice with no in-depth approach to the problems of the country.

6.Rahul Gandhi and his speech-writers largely
succeeded in creating positive vibrations about him in the party as well as outside
and in making it clear that he cannot be underestimated as a political leader. It
was a well thought-out tactics on the part of his advisers to avoid all
contentious references to the BJP and other political formations.

7.The second way of analyzing it is as a visionary
document, analyzing the state of the nation and indicating a policy
frameworkand a way forward for the
future. In that perspective, it was a disappointing speech devoid of any
referencesto serious problems facing
the country such the growing public demand for a Jan Lokpal to deal with
corruption, the stalling economy, inflation, national security in the light of
new tensions in our relations with Pakistan, the recent upsurge of the people
on the question of crime against women and the alienation of the growing
community of netizens, which is already playing an important role in influencing
perceptions.

8. Surprisingly and disappointingly, these issues
were merely referred to in passing without any idea of his thinking on them and
how he would like them to be tackled. His reference to the burning issue of
corruption was dismissive and flippant. He seems to have inherited the flippant
side of his personality from his father.

9. His references to various issues were from the
point of view of the party and not the nation and the state. He carefully
avoided stepping into the policy and performance world of the Government headed
by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

10.Overall, while he succeeded in rallying the
party under his leadership, he failed to inspire and rally the nation under his
leadership. Rahul Gandhi has been widely perceived as an uninspiring leader
with no intellectual spark. This perception will remain strong even after his
speech.

11. The Jaipur Conclave was held as the first step
in the Congress Party’s preparations for the forthcoming elections to the Lok
Sabha due in early 2014. It must be said to the credit of the traditional
office-bearers of the party that they have started the organizational poll
preparations well ahead of the BJP, which is still in a state of disarray and
confusion. The BJP has not been able to take advantage of the widespread
disenchantment in the country with the Congress Party and with the style of
leadership of Dr.Manmohan Singh.

12.Despite its deficiencies, Rahul Gandhi’s speech
will be a shot in the arm for the Congress Party as it prepares itself for the
polls. What we saw on January 20 was not an inspiring or electrifying leader,
but a leader who has been well-advised to make mid-course corrections in his
personality.

13.It will be childish and presumptuous to compare
Rahul Gandhi to President Barack Obama or to project his Jaipur speech as his
Obama moment. Rahul Gandhi is no Obama either in his intellectual attainments
or in the true dimensions of his personality.

14.Rahul Gandhi is Rahul Gandhi, an average leader,
who is unlikely to set the Ganges and the Yamuna on fire. We should avoid
over-stated expectations from him. ( 21-1-13)